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Search for "Lewis acid" in Full Text gives 484 result(s) in Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry. Showing first 200.
Chemoenzymatic synthesis of the cardenolide rhodexin A and its aglycone sarmentogenin
- Fuzhen Song,
- Mengmeng Zheng,
- Dongkai Wang,
- Xudong Qu and
- Qianghui Zhou
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2637–2644, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.204
- reagent [20], the key intermediate 8 bearing a butenolide motif was obtained in 76% yield. Next, with the aid of the strong Lewis acid Bi(OTf)3, the regioselective elimination of 8 was achieved to produce the Δ14 olefin intermediate 9 in 86% yield. Afterwards, we evaluated the reactivity of 9 towards
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative CGs with promising biological activities.
Scheme 1: Retrosynthetic analysis of rhodexin A and sarmentogenin.
Scheme 2: Chemoenzymatic synthesis of sarmentogenin (2).
Scheme 3: Synthesis of rhodexin A.
Visible-light-driven NHC and organophotoredox dual catalysis for the synthesis of carbonyl compounds
- Vasudevan Dhayalan
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2584–2603, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.200
- Lewis acid-mediated traditional Friedel–Crafts acylation of 2-methoxynaphthalene typically proceeds at the ortho positions relative to the methoxy group due to the electron-rich nature of these sites, while the meta position remains deactivated under the ionic mechanism. Notably, the present work
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: NHC-catalyzed umpolung strategy for the metal-free synthesis of amide via dual catalysis.
Scheme 2: Visible-light promoted cooperative NHC/photoredox catalyzed ring-opening of aryl cyclopropanes.
Scheme 3: NHC-catalyzed benzylic C–H acylation by dual catalysis.
Scheme 4: NHC/photoredox-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction for the preparation of γ-aryloxy ketones....
Scheme 5: NHC-catalyzed silyl radical generation from silylboronate via dual catalysis.
Scheme 6: NHC-catalyzed C–H acylation of arenes and heteroarenes through photocatalysis.
Scheme 7: NHC-catalyzed iminoacylation of alkenes via photoredox dual organocatalysis.
Scheme 8: NHC/photoredox catalyzed direct synthesis of β-arylketoesters.
Scheme 9: Visible-light-driven NHC/photoredox catalyzed borylacylation of alkenes.
Scheme 10: NHC-catalyzed oxidative functionalization of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 11: NHC/photocatalyzed oxidative Smiles rearrangement.
Scheme 12: NHC-catalyzed synthesis of cyclohexanones through photocatalyzed annulation.
Scheme 13: Dual organocatalyzed meta-selective acylation of electron-rich arenes and heteroarenes using blue L...
Scheme 14: Asymmetric synthesis of fused pyrrolidinones via organophotoredox/N‑heterocyclic carbene dual catal...
Ni-promoted reductive cyclization cascade enables a total synthesis of (+)-aglacin B
- Si-Chen Yao,
- Jing-Si Cao,
- Jian Xiao,
- Ya-Wen Wang and
- Yu Peng
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2548–2552, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.197
- ] by flash column chromatography in 30% yield. The stereocontrolled formation of aryltetralin 13 could be attributed to an adoption of a pseudo-half-chair conformation 5a. Finally, the final step towards the total synthesis of (+)-aglacin B (2) was achieved by treatment with BF3·Et2O as the Lewis acid
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: The structures of aglacins A, B, C, and E.
Scheme 1: Retrosynthetic analysis of (+)-aglacin B (2).
Scheme 2: Synthesis of cyclization precursor 5.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of (+)-aglacin B (2).
Transformation of the cyclohexane ring to the cyclopentane fragment of biologically active compounds
- Natalya Akhmetdinova,
- Ilgiz Biktagirov and
- Liliya Kh. Faizullina
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2416–2446, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.185
- –Crafts-type glucosylation reactions of 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-methylacetophenone (74) with glucosyl acetate 75 in the of presence Sc(OTf)3 (0.4 equiv) as a Lewis acid promoter and oxidative dearomatization of the C-glucoside precursor by O2 in the presence of pyridine in CH3OH. The key step in the acyloin
- ring contraction reaction on simple cyclohexanones to synthesize functionalized di- and triquinanes [51]. Treatment of 6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-one 86 with BF3·Et2O (2 equiv) promoted the activation of the carbonyl group in 87 by the Lewis acid, leading to the formation of an oxocarbenium ion 88
- in the formation of a cyclopentane derivative 193 in the presence of InCl3 or Bi(OTf)3. The action of the same Lewis acids on the angular epoxide 190, a regioisomer of epoxide 189, led to other products (Scheme 34). According to the authors [87], depending on the nature of the Lewis acid, the
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Ozonolysis–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of echinopine A (3).
Scheme 2: Ozonolysis–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinoids 7–12.
Figure 1: Iridoid skeleton.
Scheme 3: Ozonolysis–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of compounds 17a,b, 18 and 19 with iridoid topolog...
Scheme 4: Oxidation–aldol condensation sequence in the synthesis of compounds 21 and 23 with iridoid topology....
Scheme 5: Oxidation–aldol condensation sequence in the synthesis of compounds 29 and 30 with iridoid topology....
Scheme 6: Method for ring contraction in the absence of a double bond in a six-membered ring of triterpenoids....
Scheme 7: Oxidation–Dieckmann cyclization sequence in the synthesis of a new nortriterpenoid 39.
Scheme 8: Oxidation–Dieckmann cyclization sequence in the synthesis of 18,19-di-nor-cholesterol (40).
Scheme 9: Oxidation–cyclization sequence in the synthesis of 3-ethyl-substituted betulinic acid derivatives 49...
Scheme 10: Benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of 4β-acetoxyprobotryane-9β,15α-diol (52).
Scheme 11: Benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of (−)-taiwaniaquinone H (11).
Scheme 12: Benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of dactylicapnosines A (63) and B (64).
Scheme 13: Aza-benzilic acid-type rearrangement in the synthesis of (+)-stephadiamine (71).
Scheme 14: α-Ketol rearrangement in the synthesis of saffloneoside (73).
Scheme 15: Conversion of (−)-preaustinoid A (80) to (−)-preaustinoid B (81) via α-ketol rearrangement.
Scheme 16: α-Ketol rearrangement in the synthesis of 2,8-oxymethano-bridged diquinane 90.
Scheme 17: Oxidative ring contraction during the synthesis of (+)-cuparene (91) and (+)-tochuinylacetate (92).
Scheme 18: Semipinacol rearrangement in the synthesis of diterpenoids 97–100.
Scheme 19: Co-catalyzed homoallyl-type rearrangement in the syntheses of meroterpenes 106–109.
Scheme 20: Ring contraction reaction promoted by TTN·3H2O and HTIB in the synthesis of indanes.
Scheme 21: Rearrangement involving a hypervalent iodine compound in the synthesis of derivative 120.
Scheme 22: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of taiwaniaquinones A (7), F (8), taiwaniaquinols B (10), D (1...
Scheme 23: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of cheloviolene C (128), seconorrisolide B (129), and seconorr...
Scheme 24: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of (−)-pavidolide B (134).
Scheme 25: Wolff rearrangement in the synthesis of presilphiperfolan-8-ol (141).
Scheme 26: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of cyclopentane derivatives 147a,b.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of cyclopentane derivatives 147a and 151.
Scheme 28: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of cyclopentane derivative 153.
Scheme 29: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of tricyclic ketones 155, 156.
Scheme 30: Photochemical rearrangement in the synthesis of cis/trans salts 160.
Figure 2: Scope of the photoinduced carboborative ring contraction of steroids. Reaction conditions: steroid ...
Scheme 31: Photoinduced carboborative ring contraction in the synthesis of artalbic acid (180).
Scheme 32: Synthetic versatility of the photoinduced carboborative ring contraction.
Scheme 33: Methods of disclosure of epoxide 189.
Scheme 34: Methods of disclosure of epoxide 190.
Scheme 35: Rearrangement of α,β-epoxy ketone 197.
Scheme 36: Acid-induced rearrangement in the synthesis of perhydrindane ketones 202 and 205.
Scheme 37: Rearrangement of epoxyketone 208 in the synthesis of huperzine Q (206).
Scheme 38: Rearrangement of epoxide 212 under the action of Grignard reagent.
Scheme 39: Semipinacol rearrangement of epoxide 220 in the synthesis of (−)-citrinadin A (217) and (+)-citrina...
Scheme 40: Semipinacol rearrangement of epoxide 225 in the synthesis of hamigeran G (223).
Scheme 41: Semipinacol rearrangement of epoxide 231 in the synthesis of (−)-spirochensilide A (228).
Scheme 42: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of compound 234 with iridoid topology.
Scheme 43: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of compound 238 with iridoid topology.
Scheme 44: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of compound 241 with iridoid topology.
Scheme 45: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of lupane derivatives 245, 246, 248, and 249.
Scheme 46: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of weisaconitine D (252) and cardiopetaline (255).
Scheme 47: Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement in the synthesis of cardiopetaline (255).
An Fe(II)-catalyzed synthesis of spiro[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine] derivatives
- Elizaveta V. Gradova,
- Nikita A. Ozhegov,
- Roman O. Shcherbakov,
- Alexander G. Tkachenko,
- Larisa Y. Nesterova,
- Elena Y. Mendogralo and
- Maxim G. Uchuskin
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2383–2388, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.183
- , a highly diastereoselective method for the synthesis of dihydrospiro[indoline-3,2'-pyrrole]-2-ones has been developed (Scheme 1, path a) [7]. This transformation proceeds via a Lewis acid-mediated conjugate addition of vinyl azides to electron-deficient alkenes, followed by denitrogenative
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Natural and synthetic bioactive spiro[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine] derivatives.
Scheme 1: Previous approaches and our work.
Scheme 2: The reaction of 2-arylindoles 1 with α,β-unsaturated ketones 2. aIsolated yield of the 5 mmol scale...
Scheme 3: The scope of the Fe-catalyzed spirocyclization. aIsolated yield of the 4.2 mmol scale experiment.
Scheme 4: The proposed mechanism of product 4 formation.
Recent advances in Norrish–Yang cyclization and dicarbonyl photoredox reactions for natural product synthesis
- Peng-Xi Luo,
- Jin-Xuan Yang,
- Shao-Min Fu and
- Bo Liu
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2315–2333, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.177
- -benzoquinone – advanced 41 to neoavarone (44). After screening various Lewis acids (including AlCl3, Mg(OTf)2, Yb(OTf)3, etc.), it was finally found that treatment of 44 with irradiation at 422 nm in the presence of the optimal Lewis acid LaCl3 furnished the natural products dysiherbol A (33) and dysideanone E
- (36), along with the core structures of dysifragilone A (45), dysideanone B (46), and septosone B (47) in the highest total yield of 88% and product divergence. In comparison, the total yield in the absence of any Lewis acid was 66%. Dysifragilone A (34) was obtained over four steps from 45, while
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: a) The mechanism of Norrish type II reaction and Norrish–Yang cyclization; b) The mechanism of the ...
Scheme 2: Total synthesis of (+)-cyclobutastellettolide B.
Scheme 3: Norrish–Yang cyclization and 1,2-methyl migration.
Scheme 4: Synthetic study toward phainanoids.
Scheme 5: a) Mitsunobu reaction of the C9 ketal; b) Norrish–Yang cyclization of the saturated C5–C6; c) calcu...
Scheme 6: Total synthesis of avarane-type meroterpenoids.
Scheme 7: Total synthesis of gracilisoid A.
Scheme 8: Divergent total synthesis of gracilisoids B–I.
Scheme 9: Mechanism of the late-stage biomimetic photooxidation.
Scheme 10: Asymmetric total synthesis of lycoplatyrine A.
Scheme 11: Photoreaction of pyrrolidine-derived phenyl keto amide.
Scheme 12: Photoredox reactions of naphthoquinones.
Scheme 13: Synthetic study toward γ-rubromycin.
Scheme 14: Substituent-dependent conformational preferences.
Scheme 15: Total synthesis of preussomerins EG1, EG2, and EG3.
Halogenated butyrolactones from the biomass-derived synthon levoglucosenone
- Johannes Puschnig,
- Martyn Jevric and
- Ben W. Greatrex
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2297–2301, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.175
- using CF3 donors in copper-catalyzed [34], base- and Lewis acid-mediated reactions [35][36][37]. The reaction of enamine 9a with Togni’s reagent (18) and subsequent hydrolysis gave the substituted derivative 19 in 35% yield (qNMR) (Scheme 4). The yield was improved using the N-methylpiperazine-derived
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Halogen-containing butyrolactone-derived bioactives.
Scheme 1: Preparation of chlorinated and brominated lactones 8a,b and 11a,b.
Scheme 2: Preparation of fluorinated lactone 14.
Scheme 3: Fluorination of LGO (5) and conversion to lactone 17.
Scheme 4: Trifluoromethylation of 9a,b and 15 and subsequent Baeyer–Villiger oxidation.
Enantioselective radical chemistry: a bright future ahead
- Anna C. Renner,
- Sagar S. Thorat,
- Hariharaputhiran Subramanian and
- Mukund P. Sibi
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2283–2296, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.174
- describes several important catalytic asymmetric strategies applied to enantioselective radical reactions, including chiral Lewis acid catalysis, organocatalysis, photoredox catalysis, chiral transition-metal catalysis and photoenzymatic catalysis. The application of electrochemistry to asymmetric radical
- transformations is also discussed. Keywords: chiral Lewis acid; electrochemistry; enantioselective radical reaction; organocatalysis; photoenzymatic catalysis; photoredox; Introduction Asymmetric catalysis plays an integral role in the enantioselective synthesis of organic compounds. A wide variety of
- the 1990s. Since then, meticulous research by several research groups has led to significant advances in this area [4][5][6][7][8]. This perspective focuses on several important contributions to the science of asymmetric radical reactions. Pioneering work on chiral Lewis acid catalysis and iminium
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Methods of radical generation (A) and general types of radical reactions (B).
Figure 2: Chiral catalysis in enantioselective radical chemistry [13-37].
Scheme 1: Diastereo- and enantioselective additions of nucleophilic radicals to N-enoyloxazolidinone and pyrr...
Scheme 2: Organocatalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloadditions affording substituted pyrrolidines.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of a hexacyclic compound via an organocatalyzed enantioselective polyene cyclization.
Scheme 4: Nickel-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling reactions.
Scheme 5: Chiral cobalt–porphyrin metalloradical-catalyzed radical cyclization reactions.
Scheme 6: Enantioselective radical chaperone catalysis.
Scheme 7: Enantioselective radical addition by decatungstate/iminium catalysis.
Scheme 8: An ene-reductase-catalyzed photoenzymatic enantioselective radical cyclization/enantioselective HAT...
Scheme 9: Photoenzymatic oxidative C(sp3)–C(sp3) coupling reactions between organoboron compounds and amino a...
Scheme 10: Electrochemical α-alkenylation reactions of 2-acylimidazoles catalyzed by a chiral-at-rhodium Lewis...
Scheme 11: Regio- and enantioselective electrochemical reactions of silyl polyenolates catalyzed by a chiral n...
Thiadiazino-indole, thiadiazino-carbazole and benzothiadiazino-carbazole dioxides: synthesis, physicochemical and early ADME characterization of representatives of new tri-, tetra- and pentacyclic ring systems and their intermediates
- Gyöngyvér Pusztai,
- László Poszávácz,
- Anna Vincze,
- András Marton,
- Ahmed Qasim Abdulhussein,
- Judit Halász,
- András Dancsó,
- Gyula Simig,
- György Tibor Balogh and
- Balázs Volk
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2220–2233, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.169
- were previously used for the synthesis of 7-nitroindole derivatives: heating in polyphosphoric acid (PPA) at 80 °C [24][25]. However, our attempt was not successful. Experiments with zinc chloride, the most commonly used Lewis acid catalyst in Fischer indole syntheses, also failed under various
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Phthalazinones 1, benzothiadiazine dioxides 2, and thiadiazinoindole dioxides 3.
Scheme 1: Synthesis of tri- and tetracyclic thiadiazinoindole dioxides 3.
Figure 2: 1H NMR and selective 1D NOESY (with the excitation of NH) spectra of (E)-7h.
Figure 3: 1H NMR and selective 1D NOESY (with the excitation of NH) spectra of (Z)-7h.
Scheme 2: Synthesis of pentacyclic compounds 10.
Figure 4: X-ray structures of compounds 3d (A), 7d (B), (Z)-7h (C), and (E)-9a (D).
Figure 5: The capacity factor (logk) vs calculated partition coefficients (clogP) by ACD Labs/Percepta [36]); the...
C2 to C6 biobased carbonyl platforms for fine chemistry
- Jingjing Jiang,
- Muhammad Noman Haider Tariq,
- Florence Popowycz,
- Yanlong Gu and
- Yves Queneau
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2103–2172, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.165
- than nine steps and gave only 15% yield. No remaining acetal was found in the final product (Scheme 18). The production of lactic acid from dihydroxyacetone or its derivative pyruvaldehyde was investigated on large scale to evaluate the water tolerance of Lewis acid sites of several solid catalysts [86
- catalysis. The mechanism first involves the isomerization of xylose into xylulose under Lewis acid-type catalysis, and the subsequent dehydration of xylulose into furfural under Brønsted acid-type catalysis (Scheme 47). Humins are naturally formed in all processes involving the acid-catalyzed degradation of
- of Lewis acid–base bifunctional catalyst (Zr-β zeolite and K2CO3) in the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction of a concentrated furfural solution (17.3–80.5 wt % in ethanol) combined with in situ cross-aldol condensation with acetaldehyde and crotonization. Ethanol was used as hydrogen donor for the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: C2–C6 biobased carbonyl building blocks.
Scheme 1: Proposed (2 + 2) route to glycolaldehyde and glycolic acid from erythritol by Cu/AC catalyst (AC = ...
Scheme 2: Reductive amination of GCA.
Scheme 3: N-Formylation of secondary amines by reaction with GCA.
Scheme 4: Synthesis and conversion of hydroxy acetals to cyclic acetals.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of 3-(indol-3-yl)-2,3-dihydrofurans via three-component reaction of glycolaldehyde, indol...
Scheme 6: BiCl3-catalyzed synthesis of benzo[a]carbazoles from 2-arylindoles and α-bromoacetaldehyde ethylene...
Scheme 7: Cu/NCNSs-based conversion of glycerol to glycolic acid and other short biobased acids.
Scheme 8: E. coli-based biotransformation of C1 source molecules (CH4, CO2 and CO) towards C2 glycolic acid.
Scheme 9: N-Formylation of amines with C2 (a) or C3 (b) biomass-based feedstocks.
Scheme 10: Methods for the formation of propanoic acid (PA) from lactic acid (LA).
Scheme 11: Co-polymerization of biobased lactic acid and glycolic acid via a bicatalytic process.
Scheme 12: Oxidation of α-hydroxy acids by tetrachloroaurate(III) in acetic acid–sodium acetate buffer medium.
Figure 2: Selective catalytic pathways for the conversion of lactic acid (LA).
Scheme 13: Synthesis of 1,3-PDO via cross-aldol reaction between formaldehyde and acetaldehyde to 3-hydroxypro...
Scheme 14: Hydrothermal conversion of 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propane and 2,3-dihydroxypropanal to methylglyoxal.
Scheme 15: FLS-catalyzed formose reaction to synthesize GA and DHA.
Scheme 16: GCA and DHA oxidation products of glycerol and isomerization of GCA to DHA under flow conditions us...
Scheme 17: Acid-catalyzed reactions of DHA with alcohols.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of dihydroxyacetone phosphate from dihydroxyacetone.
Scheme 19: Bifunctional acid–base catalyst DHA conversion into lactic acid via pyruvaldehyde or fructose forma...
Scheme 20: Catalytic one-pot synthesis of GA and co-synthesis of formamides and formates from DHA.
Scheme 21: (a) Synthesis of furan derivatives and (b) synthesis of thiophene derivative by cascade [3 + 2] ann...
Scheme 22: Brønsted acidic ionic liquid catalyzed synthesis of benzo[a]carbazole from renewable acetol and 2-p...
Scheme 23: Asymmetric hydrogenation of α-hydroxy ketones to 1,2-diols.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of novel 6-(substituted benzylidene)-2-methylthiazolo [2,3-b]oxazol-5(6H)-one from 1-hydr...
Scheme 25: ʟ-Proline-catalyzed synthesis of anti-diols from hydroxyacetone and aldehydes.
Scheme 26: C–C-bond-formation reactions of a biomass-based feedstock aromatic aldehyde (C5) and hydroxyacetone...
Scheme 27: Ethanol upgrading to C4 bulk chemicals via the thiamine (VB1)-catalyzed acetoin condensation.
Scheme 28: One-pot sequential chemoenzymatic synthesis of 2-aminobutane-1,4-diol and 1,2,4-butanetriol via 1,4...
Scheme 29: Synthesis of 1,4-dihydroxybutan-2-one by microbial transformation.
Scheme 30: Conversion of polyols by [neocuproine)Pd(OAc)]2(OTf)2] to α-hydroxy ketones.
Scheme 31: Chemoselective oxidation of alcohols with chiral palladium-based catalyst 2.
Scheme 32: Electrochemical transformation of furfural to 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (HFO).
Scheme 33: Selective hydrodeoxygenation of HFO and oxidation to γ-butyrolactone (GBL).
Scheme 34: Photosensitized oxygenation of furan towards HFO via ozonide intermediates.
Scheme 35: Conversion of furfural to HFO and MAN by using mesoporous carbon nitride (SGCN) as photocatalyst.
Scheme 36: Synthesis of HFO from furan derivatives.
Scheme 37: Photooxidation of furfural to 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (HFO).
Scheme 38: Synthesis of Friedel–Crafts indole adduct from HFO.
Scheme 39: Conversion of HFO to α,γ-substituted chiral γ-lactones.
Scheme 40: Tautomeric transformation of HFO to formylacrylic acid.
Scheme 41: Hydrolysis of HFO to succinic acid in aqueous solution.
Scheme 42: Substitution and condensation reactions of 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (HFO).
Scheme 43: (a) Conversion of HFO towards valuable C4 chemicals and (b) anodic oxidation of 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-fur...
Figure 3: Conversion of HFO towards other natural and synthetic substances.
Scheme 44: Conversion of furfural to maleic anhydride (reaction a: VOx/Al2O3; reaction b: VPO).
Scheme 45: Conversion of furfural into succinic acid.
Scheme 46: Electro‑, photo‑, and biocatalysis for one-pot selective conversions of furfural into C4 chemicals.
Scheme 47: Production route of furfural from hemicellulose.
Scheme 48: Mechanism for xylose dehydration to furfural through a choline xyloside intermediate.
Scheme 49: Conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and its derivatives.
Scheme 50: Conversion of furfural to furfuryl alcohol and 3-(2-furyl)acrolein.
Scheme 51: The aerobic oxidative condensation of biomass-derived furfural and linear alcohols.
Scheme 52: The single-step synthesis of 2-pentanone from furfural.
Scheme 53: Electrocatalytic coupling reaction of furfural and levulinic acid.
Scheme 54: Conversion of furfural to m-xylylenediamine.
Scheme 55: Conversion of furfural to tetrahydrofuran-derived amines.
Scheme 56: Formation of trans-4,5-diamino-cyclopent-2-enones from furfural.
Scheme 57: Production of pyrrole and proline from furfural.
Scheme 58: Synthesis of 1‑(trifluoromethyl)-8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-en-2-ones from furfural.
Scheme 59: Conversion of furfural to furfural-derived diacids.
Scheme 60: A telescope protocol derived from furfural and glycerol.
Scheme 61: A tandem cyclization of furfural and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione.
Scheme 62: A Ugi four-component reaction to construct furfural-based polyamides.
Scheme 63: One-pot synthesis of γ-acyloxy-Cy7 from furfural.
Scheme 64: Dimerization–Piancatelli sequence toward humins precursors from furfural.
Scheme 65: Conversion of furfural to CPN.
Scheme 66: Synthesis of jet fuels range cycloalkanes from CPN and lignin-derived vanillin.
Scheme 67: Solar-energy-driven synthesis of high-density biofuels from CPN.
Scheme 68: Reductive amination of CPN to cyclopentylamine.
Scheme 69: Asymmetric hydrogenation of C=O bonds of exocyclic α,β-unsaturated cyclopentanones.
Scheme 70: Preparation of levulinic acid via the C5 route (route a) or C6 route (routes b1 and b2).
Scheme 71: Mechanism of the rehydration of HMF to levulinic acid and formic acid.
Scheme 72: Important levulinic acid-derived chemicals.
Scheme 73: Direct conversion of levulinic acid to pentanoic acid.
Scheme 74: Catalytic aerobic oxidation of levulinic acid to citramalic acid.
Scheme 75: Conversion of levulinic acid to 1,4-pentanediol (a) see ref. [236]; b) see ref. [237]; c) see ref. [238]; d) see r...
Scheme 76: Selective production of 2-butanol through hydrogenolysis of levulinic acid.
Scheme 77: General reaction pathways proposed for the formation of 5MPs from levulinic acid.
Scheme 78: Selective reductive amination of levulinic acid to N-substituted pyrroles.
Scheme 79: Reductive amination of levulinic acid to chiral pyrrolidinone.
Scheme 80: Reductive amination of levulinic acid to non-natural chiral γ-amino acid.
Scheme 81: Nitrogen-containing chemicals derived from levulinic acid.
Scheme 82: Preparation of GVL from levulinic acid by dehydration and hydrogenation.
Scheme 83: Ruthenium-catalyzed levulinic acid to chiral γ-valerolactone.
Scheme 84: Catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of levulinic acid to chiral GVL.
Scheme 85: Three steps synthesis of ε-caprolactam from GVL.
Scheme 86: Multistep synthesis of nylon 6,6 from GVL.
Scheme 87: Preparation of MeGVL by α-alkylation of GVL.
Scheme 88: Ring-opening polymerization of five-membered lactones.
Scheme 89: Synthesis of GVL-based ionic liquids.
Scheme 90: Preparation of butene isomers from GVL under Lewis acid conditions.
Scheme 91: Construction of C5–C12 fuels from GVL over nano-HZSM-5 catalysts.
Scheme 92: Preparation of alkyl valerate from GVL via ring opening/reduction/esterification sequence.
Scheme 93: Construction of 4-acyloxypentanoic acids from GVL.
Scheme 94: Synthesis of 1,4-pentanediol (PDO) from GVL.
Scheme 95: Construction of novel cyclic hemiketal platforms via self-Claisen condensation of GVL.
Scheme 96: Copper-catalyzed lactamization of GVL.
Figure 4: Main scaffolds obtained from HMF.
Scheme 97: Biginelli reactions towards HMF-containing dihydropyrimidinones.
Scheme 98: Hantzsch dihydropyridine synthesis involving HMF.
Scheme 99: The Kabachnik–Fields reaction involving HMF.
Scheme 100: Construction of oxazolidinone from HMF.
Scheme 101: Construction of rhodamine-furan hybrids from HMF.
Scheme 102: A Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction involving HMF.
Scheme 103: HMF-containing benzodiazepines by [4 + 2 + 1] cycloadditions.
Scheme 104: Synthesis of fluorinated analogues of α-aryl ketones.
Scheme 105: Synthesis of HMF derived disubstituted γ-butyrolactone.
Scheme 106: Functionalized aromatics from furfural and HMF.
Scheme 107: Diels–Alder adducts from HMF or furfural with N-methylmaleimide.
Scheme 108: Pathway of the one-pot conversion of HMF into phthalic anhydride.
Scheme 109: Photocatalyzed preparation of humins (L-H) from HMF mixed with spoiled HMF residues (LMW-H) and fur...
Scheme 110: Asymmetric dipolar cycloadditions on HMF.
Scheme 111: Dipolar cycloadditions of HMF based nitrones to 3,4- and 3,5-substituted isoxazolidines.
Scheme 112: Production of δ-lactone-fused cyclopenten-2-ones from HMF.
Scheme 113: Aza-Piancatelli access to aza-spirocycles from HMF-derived intermediates.
Scheme 114: Cross-condensation of furfural, acetone and HMF into C13, C14 and C15 products.
Scheme 115: Base-catalyzed aldol condensation/dehydration sequences from HMF.
Scheme 116: Condensation of HMF and active methylene nitrile.
Scheme 117: MBH reactions involving HMF.
Scheme 118: Synthesis of HMF-derived ionic liquids.
Scheme 119: Reductive amination/enzymatic acylation sequence towards HMF-based surfactants.
Scheme 120: The formation of 5-chloromethylfurfural (CMF).
Scheme 121: Conversion of CMF to HMF, levulinic acid, and alkyl levulinates.
Scheme 122: Conversion of CMF to CMFCC and FDCC.
Scheme 123: Conversion of CMF to BHMF.
Scheme 124: Conversion of CMF to DMF.
Scheme 125: CMF chlorine atom substitutions toward HMF ethers and esters.
Scheme 126: Introduction of carbon nucleophiles in CMF.
Scheme 127: NHC-catalyzed remote enantioselective Mannich-type reactions of CMF.
Scheme 128: Conversion of CMF to promising biomass-derived dyes.
Scheme 129: Radical transformation of CMF with styrenes.
Scheme 130: Synthesis of natural herbicide δ-aminolevulinic acid from CMF.
Scheme 131: Four step synthesis of the drug ranitidine from CMF.
Scheme 132: Pd/CO2 cooperative catalysis for the production of HHD and HXD.
Scheme 133: Different ruthenium (Ru) catalysts for the ring-opening of 5-HMF to HHD.
Scheme 134: Proposed pathways for preparing HXD from HMF.
Scheme 135: MCP formation and uses.
Scheme 136: Cu(I)-catalyzed highly selective oxidation of HHD to 2,5-dioxohexanal.
Scheme 137: Synthesis of N‑substituted 3‑hydroxypyridinium salts from 2,5-dioxohexanal.
Scheme 138: Ru catalyzed hydrogenations of HHD to 1,2,5-hexanetriol (a) see ref. [396]; b) see ref. [397]).
Scheme 139: Aviation fuel range quadricyclanes produced by HXD.
Scheme 140: Synthesis of HDGK from HXD and glycerol as a chain extender.
Scheme 141: Synthesis of serinol pyrrole from HXD and serinol.
Scheme 142: Synthesis of pyrroles from HXD and nitroarenes.
Scheme 143: Two-step production of PX from cellulose via HXD.
Scheme 144: Preparation of HCPN from HMF via hydrogenation and ring rearrangement.
Scheme 145: Suggested pathways from HMF to HCPN.
Scheme 146: α-Alkylation of HCPN with ethylene gas.
Scheme 147: Synthesis of 3-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentylamine from HMF via reductive amination of HCPN.
Scheme 148: Production of LGO and Cyrene® from biomass.
Scheme 149: Synthesis of HBO from LGO and other applications.
Scheme 150: Construction of m-Cyrene® homopolymer.
Scheme 151: Conversion of Cyrene® to THFDM and 1,6-hexanediol.
Scheme 152: RAFT co-polymerization of LGO and butadienes.
Scheme 153: Polycondensation of HO-LGOL and diols with dimethyl adipate.
Scheme 154: Self-condensation of Cyrene® and Claisen–Schmidt reactions.
Scheme 155: Synthesis of 5-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydropyran from Cyrene®.
Bioinspired total syntheses of natural products: a personal adventure
- Zhengyi Qin,
- Yuting Yang,
- Nuran Yan,
- Xinyu Liang,
- Zhiyu Zhang,
- Yaxuan Duan,
- Huilin Li and
- Xuegong She
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 2048–2061, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.160
- stereoselective de novo approach [37]. The lactone was reduced with DIBAL-H to a semiketal, which was treated with the Lewis acid BF3·OEt2 to generate the putative oxa-carbenium 39. This cation triggered the Friedel–Crafts proposed cyclization with the electron-rich phenyl ring to give the dibenzocyclooctene
- powerful synthetic approach. By utilizing the concept of bioinspired total synthesis, our group has achieved the total synthesis of chabranol through a Lewis acid-promoted double cyclization, total synthesis of natural products of the monocerin-family through a benzylic oxidation and oxa-Michael addition
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative natural products with biomimetic total synthesis.
Scheme 1: Bioinspired total synthesis of chabranol (2010).
Scheme 2: Proposed biosynthetic pathway of monocerin-family natural products.
Scheme 3: Bioinspired total synthesis of monocerin-family molecules (2013).
Scheme 4: Bioinspired skeletal diversification of (12-MeO-)tabertinggine (2016).
Scheme 5: Structures and our proposed biosynthetic pathway of gymnothelignans.
Scheme 6: Bioinspired total synthesis of gymnothelignans (2014–2025).
Scheme 7: Bioinspired total synthesis of sarglamides (2025).
Enantioselective desymmetrization strategy of prochiral 1,3-diols in natural product synthesis
- Lihua Wei,
- Rui Yang,
- Zhifeng Shi and
- Zhiqiang Ma
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1932–1963, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.151
- Lewis acid-mediated semi-pinacol rearrangement, this work involved a CRL-catalyzed desymmetrization of prochiral diol 51 (prepared from aldehyde 50 in four steps), providing monoester 53 in 57% yield with 83% ee. Notably, 1-ethoxyvinyl 2-furoate (52) was selected as the acyl donor in this step to
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: General mechanism of a lipase-catalyzed esterification.
Scheme 2: Shishido’s synthesis of (−)-xanthorrhizol (4) and (+)-heliannuol D (8).
Scheme 3: Shishido’s synthesis of a) (−)-heliannuol A (15) and b) heliannuol G (20) and heliannuol H (21).
Scheme 4: Deska’s synthesis of hyperione A (30) and ent-hyperione B (31).
Scheme 5: Huang’s synthesis of (+)-brazilin (37).
Scheme 6: Shishido’s synthesis of (−)-heliannuol D (42) and (+)-heliannuol A (43).
Scheme 7: Chênevert’s synthesis of (S)-α-tocotrienol (49).
Scheme 8: Kita’s synthesis of monoester 53.
Scheme 9: Kita’s synthesis of fredericamycin A (60).
Scheme 10: Takabe’s synthesis of (E)-3,7-dimethyl-2-octene-1,8-diol (64).
Scheme 11: Takabe’s synthesis of (18S)-variabilin (70).
Scheme 12: Kawasaki’s synthesis of (S)-Rosaphen (74) and (R)-Rosaphen (75).
Scheme 13: Tokuyama’s synthesis of a) (−)-petrosin (84) and b) (+)-petrosin (86).
Scheme 14: Fukuyama’s synthesis of leustroducsin B (96).
Scheme 15: Nanda’s synthesis of a) fragment 100, b) fragment 106 and c) (−)-rasfonin (109).
Scheme 16: Davies’ synthesis of (+)-pilocarpine (115) and (+)-isopilocarpine (116).
Scheme 17: Ōmura’s synthesis of salinosporamide A (125).
Scheme 18: Kang’s synthesis of ʟ-cladinose (124) and its derivative.
Scheme 19: Kang’s preparation of fragment 139.
Scheme 20: Kang’s synthesis of azithromycin (149).
Scheme 21: Kang’s synthesis of (−)-dysiherbaine (156).
Scheme 22: Kang’s synthesis of (−)-kaitocephalin (166).
Scheme 23: Kang’s synthesis of laidlomycin (180).
Scheme 24: Snyder’s synthesis of arboridinine (190).
Scheme 25: Ma’s synthesis of (+)-alstrostine G (203).
Scheme 26: Trost’s synthesis of (−)-18-epi-peloruside A (215).
Scheme 27: Lindel’s synthesis of (–)-dihydroraputindole (223).
Scheme 28: Iwata’s synthesis of a) (−)-talaromycin B (232) and b) (+)-talaromycin A (235).
Scheme 29: Cook’s synthesis of a) (−)-vincamajinine (240) and b) (−)-11-methoxy-17-epivincamajine (245).
Scheme 30: Cook’s synthesis of (+)-dehydrovoachalotine (249) and voachalotine (250).
Scheme 31: Cook’s synthesis of a) (−)-12-methoxy-Nb-methylvoachalotine (257) and b) (+)-polyneuridine, macusin...
Scheme 32: Trauner’s synthesis of stephadiamine (273).
Scheme 33: Garg’s synthesis of (–)-ψ-akuammigine (285).
Scheme 34: Ding’s synthesis of (+)-18-benzoyldavisinol (293) and (+)-davisinol (294).
Preparation of spirocyclic oxindoles by cyclisation of an oxime to a nitrone and dipolar cycloaddition
- Beth L. Ritchie,
- Alexandra Longcake and
- Iain Coldham
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1890–1896, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.146
- the presence of a Lewis acid. The use of BF3·OEt2 gave a low yield of the desired alcohol 2 [29]. This was improved slightly with Sc(OTf)3 as the Lewis acid, which could be used substoichiometrically [30]. The alcohol 2 was converted to the tosylate 3 and subsequent ozonolysis gave the aldehyde 4. The
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative oxindole alkaloids.
Scheme 1: Proposed synthetic approach.
Scheme 2: Preparation of the aldehyde 4.
Scheme 3: Cycloaddition with N-methylmaleimide.
Figure 2: Orientation for the cycloaddition (left) and the crystal structure of the major stereoisomer 5a (ri...
Scheme 4: Cycloaddition with N-phenylmaleimide.
Scheme 5: Cycloaddition with dimethyl fumarate and dimethyl maleate.
Fe-catalyzed efficient synthesis of 2,4- and 4-substituted quinolines via C(sp2)–C(sp2) bond scission of styrenes
- Prafull A. Jagtap,
- Manish M. Petkar,
- Vaishnavi R. Sawant and
- Bhalchandra M. Bhanage
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1799–1807, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.142
- [53]. In this work, the authors used a stoichiometric amount of Zn(OTf)3 as a Lewis acid catalyst and air as the oxidant for the reaction. Jana and colleagues demonstrated an atom-efficient pseudo-three-component C–H annulation reaction catalyzed by Yb and Cu, which involved nitrosoarenes and styrene
- cleavage as well as inadequate Lewis acid activation of N-methylaniline (1a′), which hinders its further cyclization into the final product 3a′. The reaction, when conducted in the absence of a catalyst, failed to proceed, thereby highlighting the crucial role of catalytic activation in facilitating the
- corresponding imines I and I′, as supported by the detection of imine I during GC–MS analysis. Both imines coordinate with the Lewis acid FeIII forming intermediates II and II′ with enhanced electrophilicity, respectively. Another equivalent of styrene (2a) attacks the electrophilic carbon, leading to the
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative examples of bioactive quinolines.
Scheme 1: C(sp2)–C(sp2) bond-cleavage strategies for quinoline synthesis.
Scheme 2: Substrate scope of various arylamines and styrenes.
Scheme 3: Scale-up studies for the synthesis of antifungal agents.
Scheme 4: Mechanistic investigations.
Scheme 5: Plausible reaction mechanism.
Research progress on calixarene/pillararene-based controlled drug release systems
- Liu-Huan Yi,
- Jian Qin,
- Si-Ran Lu,
- Liu-Pan Yang,
- Li-Li Wang and
- Huan Yao
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1757–1785, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.139
- a hot topic [75]. PAs can be prepared via the Friedel–Crafts condensation, which involves combining 1,4-dimethoxybenzene with paraformaldehyde in the presence of a Lewis acid. The central axis of these aromatic hydrocarbon molecules possesses n fold rotational symmetry [76]. PAs possess highly
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of drug-controlled release mechanisms based on aromatic macrocycles.
Figure 2: Chemical structure of a) calix[n]arene (m = 1,3,5), and b) pillar[n]arene (m = 1,2,3).
Figure 3: Changes in pH conditions cause the release of drugs from CA8 host–guest complexes [101]. Figure 3 was adapted wi...
Figure 4: The illustration of the pH-mediated 1:1 complex formation between the host and guest molecules in a...
Figure 5: Illustration of the pH-responsive self-assembly of mannose-modified CA4 into micelles and the subse...
Figure 6: Illustration of the assembly of supramolecular prodrug nanoparticles from WP6 and DOX-derived prodr...
Figure 7: Illustration of the formation of supramolecular vesicles and their pH-dependent drug release [93]. Figure 7 was...
Figure 8: Schematic illustration of the application of the multifunctional nanoplatform CyCA@POPD in combined...
Figure 9: Illustration of the photolysis of an amphiphilic assembly via CA-induced aggregation [114]. Figure 9 was reprint...
Figure 10: Schematic illustration of drug release controlled by the photo-responsive macroscopic switch based ...
Figure 11: Schematic illustration of the formation process of Azo-SMX and its photoisomerization reaction unde...
Figure 12: Schematic illustration of the enzyme-responsive behavior of supramolecular polymers [95]. Figure 12 was used wit...
Figure 13: Schematic illustration of the amphiphilic assembly of SC4A and its enzyme-responsive applications [119]. ...
Figure 14: Stimuli-responsive nanovalves based on MSNs and choline-SC4A[2]pseudorotaxanes, MSN-C1 with ester-l...
Figure 15: A schematic diagram showing the construction of a supramolecular system by host–guest interaction b...
Figure 16: A schematic diagram showing the formation of the host–guest complex DOX@Biotin-SAC4A by biotin modi...
Figure 17: A schematic diagram showing the self-assembly of CA4 into a hypoxia-responsive peptide hydrogel, wh...
Figure 18: Schematic illustration of the formation process of Lip@GluAC4A and the release of Lip under hypoxic...
Figure 19: Schematic illustration of the construction of a supramolecular vesicle based on the host–guest comp...
Figure 20: Schematic illustration of WP6 self-assembly at pH > 7, and the stimulus-responsive drug release beh...
Figure 21: Schematic illustration of the formation of supramolecular vesicles based on the WP5⊃G super-amphiph...
Figure 22: Schematic illustrations of the host–guest recognition of QAP5⊃SXD, the formation of the nanoparticl...
Figure 23: Schematic illustration of the activation of T-SRNs by acid, alkali, or Zn2+ stimuli to regulate the...
Figure 24: Illustration of the triggered release of BH from CP[5]A@MSNs-Q NPs in response to a drop in pH or a...
Figure 25: Illustration of the supramolecular amphiphiles TPENCn@1 (n = 6 and 12) self-assembling with disulfi...
Photocatalysis and photochemistry in organic synthesis
- Timothy Noël and
- Bartholomäus Pieber
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1645–1647, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.128
- of a dehydroalanine derivative using silane-mediated halogen atom transfer [28]. Dual catalytic approaches that merge photocatalysis with Lewis acid [29], organo- [30], or transition metal catalysis [31] have enabled access to bond formations that are otherwise challenging to achieve. In particular
Transition-state aromaticity and its relationship with reactivity in pericyclic reactions
- Israel Fernández
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1613–1626, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.125
- this perspective article, we shall show the relationship between transition-state aromaticity and reactivity in representative pericyclic reactions. Perspective Lewis acid-catalyzed Diels–Alder cycloadditions It is well-established that catalytic amounts of a Lewis acid (LA) can significantly
- following subchapter) but also to other processes such as aza-Michael additions or processes catalyzed by species able to establish noncovalent interactions with the reactants [52][53][54][55][56][57]. Lewis acid-catalyzed carbonyl–ene reactions Similar to the Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction, the Alder
- , which is translated into high reaction temperatures that severely limit the scope of the process. Nevertheless, as Diels–Alder cycloadditions, Alder–ene reactions can be efficiently accelerated (i.e., having lower barriers) upon the addition of catalytic amounts of a Lewis acid [62], which again
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: (a) Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction between butadiene and ethylene. (b) Gold(I)-catalyzed propar...
Figure 1: Transition states computed for the Diels–Alder cycloaddition reaction between isoprene and methyl a...
Figure 2: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the Diels–Alder...
Figure 3: (a) Evolution of the NICS(3, +1) values along a z-axis perpendicular to the molecular plane of the ...
Figure 4: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the carbonyl–en...
Figure 5: AICD (a) and EDDB (b) plots for the transition state involved in the DGRT between ethene and ethane....
Figure 6: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the DGRT betwee...
Scheme 2: Representative cycloisomerization reaction of 1,3-hexadien-5-yne.
Figure 7: AICD plots of the transition states associated with the Hopf cyclization reactions involving cis-he...
Figure 8: Comparative activation strain analyses of the Hopf cyclization involving ene–ene–ynes E=CH–CH=CH–C≡...
Scheme 3: 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition reactions between t-BuN3 and cyaphide complexes.
Figure 9: Evolution of the NICS(3, +1) values along a z-axis perpendicular to the molecular plane of the TSs ...
Figure 10: Comparative activation strain analyses (a) and energy decomposition analysis (b) of the 1,3-dipolar...
Microwave-enhanced additive-free C–H amination of benzoxazoles catalysed by supported copper
- Andrei Paraschiv,
- Valentina Maruzzo,
- Filippo Pettazzi,
- Stefano Magliocco,
- Paolo Inaudi,
- Daria Brambilla,
- Gloria Berlier,
- Giancarlo Cravotto and
- Katia Martina
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1462–1476, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.108
- contrast, the presence of Cu facilitated the conversion of the intermediate to the desired aromatic benzoxazole 2a, demonstrating copper’s dual role as a Lewis acid in enhancing nucleophilic attack, and as an efficient catalyst for ring-closing oxidative rearomatisation. Of the conditions tested, the use
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Representative synthetic routes for the C–H amination of benzoxazole using supported copper catalys...
Figure 1: Reaction of benzimidazole with piperidine. a) Reaction scheme including intermaidates and b) conver...
Figure 2: Reaction rate comparison between conventional (oil bath) and MW heating. Reaction conditions: benzo...
Scheme 2: Graphical representation of Si-MonoAm-Cu(I) and Si-DiAm-Cu(I) preparation.
Figure 3: TGA profiles of SIPERNAT silica and Si-MonoAm and Si-DiAm.
Scheme 3: Scope of the MW-promoted C2-amination of benzoxazole catalysed by Si-MonoAm-Cu(I). Reaction conditi...
Scheme 4: C2-Amination of substituted benzoxazoles. Reaction conditions: benzoxazole (1.0 mmol), piperidine (...
Figure 4: Hot filtration test for the Si-MonoAm-Cu(I)-catalysed C2-amination of benzoxazole with piperidine i...
Figure 5: FTIR spectra of samples on the left 3800–2400 cm−1 wavenumber on the right 1750–1350 cm−1 wavenumbe...
Figure 6: Si-MonoAm-Cu(I) catalyst reuse.
Figure 7: FESEM images of sample a) Si-MonoAm-Cu(I) 5 wt % and c) Si-MonoAm-Cu(I) 5 wt % used.
Figure 8: EDS maps of a) Si-MonoAm-Cu(I) and b) Si-MonoAm-Cu(I) used.
Oxetanes: formation, reactivity and total syntheses of natural products
- Peter Gabko,
- Martin Kalník and
- Maroš Bella
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1324–1373, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.101
- chlorides (Scheme 11a) [44]. The authors found that the secondary alcohol precursors were less reactive and that best results were obtained at low temperature (≤−50 °C) and in chlorinated solvents. The synthesis of these cages was later revisited by Le Drian et al. in 2011 who studied a Lewis acid-catalysed
- epoxide-opening cyclisation for the oxetane formation (Scheme 11b) [45]. The highest yield was obtained for the PhSH/I2 10:1 activator under unusually mild conditions – the authors believed it is due to the oxa-bridge which facilitates the Lewis acid coordination. In 2001, Rousseau and colleagues reported
- ] Cycloadditions Another widely used method for oxetane synthesis is the [2 + 2] cycloaddition between carbonyls and olefins (Scheme 19), and the two main variations include light-induced Paternò–Büchi reactions and Lewis acid- or base-catalysed formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions. The main advantages of these reactions
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Bond lengths and bond angles in oxetane at 140 K [2].
Figure 2: Analogy of 3-substituted oxetanes to carbonyl and gem-dimethyl groups [12].
Figure 3: Use of oxetanes in drug design – selected examples.
Figure 4: Examples of oxetane-containing natural products.
Scheme 1: Synthetic strategies towards construction of the oxetane ring.
Scheme 2: Overview of intramolecular Williamson etherification and competing Grob fragmentation.
Scheme 3: Synthesis of spiro-oxetanes via 1,4-C–H insertion and Williamson etherification.
Scheme 4: Use of phenyl vinyl selenone in the synthesis of spirooxindole oxetanes.
Scheme 5: Synthesis of bicyclic 3,5-anhydrofuranoses via double epoxide opening/etherification.
Scheme 6: Preparation of spirooxetanes by cycloisomerisation via MHAT/RPC.
Scheme 7: Oxetane synthesis via alcohol C–H functionalisation.
Scheme 8: Access to oxetanes 38 from α-acetyloxy iodides.
Scheme 9: The kilogram-scale synthesis of oxetane intermediate 41.
Scheme 10: Overview of the intramolecular opening of 3-membered rings.
Scheme 11: Synthesis of 4,7-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.03,6]octane skeletons.
Scheme 12: Silicon-directed electrophilic cyclisation of homoallylic alcohols.
Scheme 13: Hydrosilylation–iodocyclisation of homopropargylic alcohols.
Scheme 14: Cu-catalysed intramolecular O-vinylation of γ-bromohomoallylic alcohols.
Scheme 15: Cu-catalysed intramolecular cross-coupling of hydroxyvinylstannanes.
Scheme 16: Isomerisation of oxiranyl ethers containing weakly carbanion-stabilising groups.
Scheme 17: Cyclisation of diethyl haloalkoxymalonates.
Scheme 18: Synthesis of oxetanes through a 1,5-HAT/radical recombination sequence.
Scheme 19: General approach to oxetanes via [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 20: Synthesis of tricyclic 4:4:4 oxetanes through a photochemical triple cascade reaction.
Scheme 21: Iridium-catalysed Paternò–Büchi reaction between α-ketoesters and simple alkenes.
Scheme 22: Three-step synthesis of spirocyclic oxetanes 83 via Paternò–Büchi reaction, nucleophilic ring openi...
Scheme 23: Enantioselective Paternò–Büchi reaction catalysed by a chiral iridium photocatalyst.
Scheme 24: Synthesis of polysubstituted oxetanes 92 via Cu(II)-mediated formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 25: Synthesis of alkylideneoxetanes via NHC- and DBU-mediated formal [2 + 2] cycloadditions.
Scheme 26: Use of sulphur-stabilised carbanions in ring expansions.
Scheme 27: Synthesis of α,α-difluoro(arylthio)methyl oxetanes.
Scheme 28: Ring expansion in an industrial synthesis of PF-06878031.
Scheme 29: Ring contraction of triflated 2-hydroxy-γ-lactones.
Scheme 30: Ring contraction in an industrial synthesis of PF-06878031.
Scheme 31: Photochemical ring contraction of 2,5-dihydrofurans by aryldiazoacetic acid esters.
Scheme 32: Synthesis of 3-oxetanones via O-H insertion of carbenes.
Scheme 33: Synthesis of phosphonate oxetanones via gold-mediated alkyne oxidation/O–H insertion.
Scheme 34: Syntheses and common derivatisations of 3-oxetanone.
Scheme 35: SN1 substitution of 3-aryloxetan-3-ols by thiols and alcohols.
Scheme 36: Fe–Ni dual-catalytic olefin hydroarylation towards 3-alkyl-3-(hetero)aryloxetanes.
Scheme 37: Synthesis of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 38: Decarboxylative alkylation of 3-aryloxetan-3-carboxylic acids.
Scheme 39: Synthesis of 3-amino-3-aryloxetanes via photoredox/nickel cross-coupling catalysis.
Scheme 40: Intermolecular cross-selective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition towards spirooxetanes.
Scheme 41: Synthesis of 3-aryl-3-aminooxetanes via defluorosulphonylative coupling.
Scheme 42: Two-step synthesis of amide bioisosteres via benzotriazolyl Mannich adducts 170.
Scheme 43: Functionalisation of oxetanyl trichloroacetimidates 172.
Scheme 44: Synthesis of oxetane-amino esters 176.
Scheme 45: Tandem Friedel–Crafts alkylation/intramolecular ring opening of 3-aryloxetan-3-ols.
Scheme 46: Synthesis of polysubstituted furans and pyrroles.
Scheme 47: Synthesis of oxazolines and bisoxazolines.
Scheme 48: Tandem, one-pot syntheses of various polycyclic heterocycles.
Scheme 49: Synthesis of 1,2-dihydroquinolines via skeletal reorganisation of oxetanes.
Scheme 50: Synthesis of benzoindolines and 2,3-dihydrobenzofurans and their derivatisations.
Scheme 51: Synthesis of polysubstituted 1,4-dioxanes.
Scheme 52: Preparation of various lactones via ring opening of oxetane-carboxylic acids 219.
Scheme 53: Tsuji-Trost allylation/ring opening of 3-aminooxetanes.
Scheme 54: Arylative skeletal rearrangement of 3-vinyloxetan-3-ols to 2,5-dihydrofurans.
Scheme 55: Reductive opening of oxetanes using catalytic Mg–H species.
Scheme 56: Opening of oxetanes by silyl ketene acetals.
Scheme 57: Rhodium-catalysed hydroacylation of oxetanes.
Scheme 58: Generation of radicals from oxetanes mediated by a vitamin B12-derived cobalt catalyst.
Scheme 59: Reductive opening of oxetanes by B–Si frustrated Lewis pairs.
Scheme 60: Zirconocene-mediated reductive opening of oxetanes.
Scheme 61: Enantioselective syntheses of small and medium-size rings using chiral phosphoric acids.
Scheme 62: Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]oxepines catalysed by a chiral scandium complex.
Scheme 63: Enantioselective synthesis of 1,3-bromohydrins under a chiral squaramide catalysis.
Scheme 64: Enantioselective opening of 2-aryl-2-ethynyloxetanes by anilines.
Scheme 65: Ru-catalysed insertion of diazocarbonyls into oxetanes.
Scheme 66: Ring expansion of oxetanes by stabilised carbenes generated under blue light irradiation.
Scheme 67: Expansion of oxetanes via nickel-catalysed insertion of alkynyltrifluoroborates.
Scheme 68: Nickel-catalysed expansion of oxetanes into ε-caprolactones.
Scheme 69: Expansion of oxetanes via cobalt-catalysed carbonyl insertion.
Scheme 70: Gold-catalysed intramolecular 1,1-carboalkoxylation of oxetane-ynamides.
Scheme 71: Expansion of oxetanes by stabilised sulphoxonium ylides.
Scheme 72: Cu-catalysed ring expansion of 2-vinyloxetanes by diazoesters.
Scheme 73: Total synthesis of (+)-oxetin.
Scheme 74: Total synthesis of racemic oxetanocin A.
Scheme 75: Total synthesis of (−)-merrilactone A.
Scheme 76: Total synthesis of (+)-dictyoxetane.
Scheme 77: Total synthesis of ent-dichrocephone B.
Scheme 78: Total synthesis of (−)-mitrephorone A.
Scheme 79: Total synthesis of (−)-taxol.
Recent advances in oxidative radical difunctionalization of N-arylacrylamides enabled by carbon radical reagents
- Jiangfei Chen,
- Yi-Lin Qu,
- Ming Yuan,
- Xiang-Mei Wu,
- Heng-Pei Jiang,
- Ying Fu and
- Shengrong Guo
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1207–1271, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.98
- activated alkenes involving benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds through a cascade cyclization process (Scheme 1) [2]. This organomediated approach can be facilitated by a catalytic amount of Lewis acid. Using DTBP as the oxidant and IrCl3 as the promoter, a range of benzylic C–H bonds in arylmethanes
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: DTBP-mediated oxidative alkylarylation of activated alkenes.
Scheme 2: Iron-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkylarylation.
Scheme 3: Possible mechanism for the iron-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkylation of activated alkenes.
Scheme 4: A metal-free strategy for synthesizing 3,3-disubstituted oxindoles.
Scheme 5: Iminoxyl radical-promoted cascade oxyalkylation/alkylarylation of alkenes.
Scheme 6: Proposed mechanism for the iminoxyl radical-promoted cascade oxyalkylation/alkylarylation of alkene...
Scheme 7: Bicyclization of 1,n-enynes with alkyl nitriles.
Scheme 8: Possible reaction mechanism for the bicyclization of 1,n-enynes with alkyl nitriles.
Scheme 9: Radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with isocyanides.
Scheme 10: Plausible mechanism for the radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with isocyanides.
Scheme 11: Electrochemical dehydrogenative cyclization of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
Scheme 12: Plausible mechanism for the dehydrogenative cyclization of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.
Scheme 13: Photocatalyzed cyclization of N-arylacrylamide and N,N-dimethylaniline.
Scheme 14: Proposed mechanism for the photocatalyzed cyclization of N-arylacrylamides and N,N-dimethylanilines....
Scheme 15: Electrochemical monofluoroalkylation cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with dimethyl 2-fluoromalonat...
Scheme 16: Proposed mechanism for the electrochemical radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with dimethyl 2...
Scheme 17: Photoelectrocatalytic carbocyclization of unactivated alkenes using simple malonates.
Scheme 18: Plausible mechanism for the photoelectrocatalytic carbocyclization of unactivated alkenes with simp...
Scheme 19: Bromide-catalyzed electrochemical trifluoromethylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 20: Proposed mechanism for the electrochemical trifluoromethylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 21: Visible light-mediated trifluoromethylarylation of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 22: Plausible reaction mechanism for the visible light-mediated trifluoromethylarylation of N-arylacryl...
Scheme 23: Electrochemical difluoroethylation cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with sodium difluoroethylsulfin...
Scheme 24: Electrochemical difluoroethylation cyclization of N-methyacryloyl-N-alkylbenzamides with sodium dif...
Scheme 25: Photoredox-catalyzed radical aryldifluoromethylation of N-arylacrylamides with S-(difluoromethyl)su...
Scheme 26: Proposed mechanism for the photoredox-catalyzed radical aryldifluoromethylation of N-arylacrylamide...
Scheme 27: Visible-light-induced domino difluoroalkylation/cyclization of N-cyanamide alkenes.
Scheme 28: Proposed mechanism of photoredox-catalyzed radical domino difluoroalkylation/cyclization of N-cyana...
Scheme 29: Palladium-catalyzed oxidative difunctionalization of alkenes.
Scheme 30: Two possible mechanisms of palladium-catalyzed oxidative difunctionalization.
Scheme 31: Silver-catalyzed oxidative 1,2-alkyletherification of unactivated alkenes with α-bromoalkylcarbonyl...
Scheme 32: Photochemical radical cascade cyclization of dienes.
Scheme 33: Proposed mechanism for the photochemical radical cascade 6-endo cyclization of dienes with α-carbon...
Scheme 34: Photocatalyzed radical coupling/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides and.
Scheme 35: Photocatalyzed radical-type couplings/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with sulfoxonium ylides.
Scheme 36: Possible mechanism of visible-light-induced radical-type couplings/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides...
Scheme 37: Visible-light-promoted difluoroalkylated oxindoles systhesis via EDA complexes.
Scheme 38: Possible mechanism for the visible-light-promoted radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with bro...
Scheme 39: A dicumyl peroxide-initiated radical cascade reaction of N-arylacrylamide with DCM.
Scheme 40: Possible mechanism of radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with DCM.
Scheme 41: An AIBN-mediated radical cascade reaction of N-arylacrylamides with perfluoroalkyl iodides.
Scheme 42: Possible mechanism for the reaction with perfluoroalkyl iodides.
Scheme 43: Photoinduced palladium-catalyzed radical annulation of N-arylacrylamides with alkyl halides.
Scheme 44: Radical alkylation/cyclization of N-Alkyl-N-methacryloylbenzamides with alkyl halides.
Scheme 45: Possible mechanism for the alkylation/cyclization with unactivated alkyl chlorides.
Scheme 46: Visible-light-driven palladium-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with unac...
Scheme 47: NHC-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with alkyl bromides.
Scheme 48: Possible mechanism of NHC-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 49: Electrochemically mediated radical cyclization reaction of N-arylacrylamides with freon-type methan...
Scheme 50: Proposed mechanistic pathway of electrochemically induced radical cyclization reaction.
Scheme 51: Redox-neutral photoinduced radical cascade cylization of N-arylacrylamides with unactivated alkyl c...
Scheme 52: Proposed mechanistic hypothesis of redox-neutral radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 53: Thiol-mediated photochemical radical cascade cylization of N-arylacrylamides with aryl halides.
Scheme 54: Proposed possible mechanism of thiol-mediated photochemical radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 55: Visible-light-induced radical cascade bromocyclization of N-arylacrylamides with NBS.
Scheme 56: Possible mechanism of visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 57: Decarboxylation/radical C–H functionalization by visible-light photoredox catalysis.
Scheme 58: Plausible mechanism of visible-light photoredox-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization.
Scheme 59: Visible-light-promoted tandem radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with N-(acyloxy)phthalimides....
Scheme 60: Plausible mechanism for the tandem radical cyclization reaction.
Scheme 61: Visible-light-induced aerobic radical cascade alkylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with alde...
Scheme 62: Plausible mechanism for the aerobic radical alkylarylation of electron-deficient amides.
Scheme 63: Oxidative decarbonylative [3 + 2]/[5 + 2] annulation of N-arylacrylamide with vinyl acids.
Scheme 64: Plausible mechanism for the decarboxylative (3 + 2)/(5 + 2) annulation between N-arylacrylamides an...
Scheme 65: Rhenium-catalyzed alkylarylation of alkenes with PhI(O2CR)2.
Scheme 66: Plausible mechanism for the rhenium-catalyzed decarboxylative annulation of N-arylacrylamides with ...
Scheme 67: Visible-light-induced one-pot tandem reaction of N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 68: Plausible mechanism for the visible-light-initiated tandem synthesis of difluoromethylated oxindole...
Scheme 69: Copper-catalyzed redox-neutral cyanoalkylarylation of activated alkenes with cyclobutanone oxime es...
Scheme 70: Plausible mechanism for the copper-catalyzed cyanoalkylarylation of activated alkenes.
Scheme 71: Photoinduced alkyl/aryl radical cascade for the synthesis of quaternary CF3-attached oxindoles.
Scheme 72: Plausible photoinduced electron-transfer (PET) mechanism.
Scheme 73: Photoinduced cerium-mediated decarboxylative alkylation cascade cyclization.
Scheme 74: Plausible reaction mechanism for the decarboxylative radical-cascade alkylation/cyclization.
Scheme 75: Metal-free oxidative tandem coupling of activated alkenes.
Scheme 76: Control experiments and possible mechanism for 1,2-carbonylarylation of alkenes with carbonyl C(sp2...
Scheme 77: Silver-catalyzed acyl-arylation of activated alkenes with α-oxocarboxylic acids.
Scheme 78: Proposed mechanism for the decarboxylative acylarylation of acrylamides.
Scheme 79: Visible-light-mediated tandem acylarylation of olefines with carboxylic acids.
Scheme 80: Proposed mechanism for the radical cascade cyclization with acyl radical via visible-light photored...
Scheme 81: Erythrosine B-catalyzed visible-light photoredox arylation-cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with ar...
Scheme 82: Electrochemical cobalt-catalyzed radical cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with arylhydrazines or po...
Scheme 83: Proposed mechanism of radical cascade cyclization via electrochemical cobalt catalysis.
Scheme 84: Copper-catalyzed oxidative tandem carbamoylation/cyclization of N-arylacrylamides with hydrazinecar...
Scheme 85: Proposed reaction mechanism for the radical cascade cyclization by copper catalysis.
Scheme 86: Visible-light-driven radical cascade cyclization reaction of N-arylacrylamides with α-keto acids.
Scheme 87: Proposed mechanism of visible-light-driven cascade cyclization reaction.
Scheme 88: Peroxide-induced radical carbonylation of N-(2-methylallyl)benzamides with methyl formate.
Scheme 89: Proposed cyclization mechanism of peroxide-induced radical carbonylation with N-(2-methylallyl)benz...
Scheme 90: Persulfate promoted carbamoylation of N-arylacrylamides and N-arylcinnamamides.
Scheme 91: Proposed mechanism for the persulfate promoted radical cascade cyclization reaction of N-arylacryla...
Scheme 92: Photocatalyzed carboacylation with N-arylpropiolamides/N-alkyl acrylamides.
Scheme 93: Plausible mechanism for the photoinduced carboacylation of N-arylpropiolamides/N-alkyl acrylamides.
Scheme 94: Electrochemical Fe-catalyzed radical cyclization with N-arylacrylamides.
Scheme 95: Plausible mechanism for the electrochemical Fe-catalysed radical cyclization of N-phenylacrylamide.
Scheme 96: Substrate scope of the selective functionalization of various α-ketoalkylsilyl peroxides with metha...
Scheme 97: Proposed reaction mechanism for the Fe-catalyzed reaction of alkylsilyl peroxides with methacrylami...
Scheme 98: EDA-complex mediated C(sp2)–C(sp3) cross-coupling of TTs and N-methyl-N-phenylmethacrylamides.
Scheme 99: Proposed mechanism for the synthesis of oxindoles via EDA complex.
Selective monoformylation of naphthalene-fused propellanes for methylene-alternating copolymers
- Kenichi Kato,
- Tatsuki Hiroi,
- Seina Okada,
- Shunsuke Ohtani and
- Tomoki Ogoshi
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1183–1191, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.95
- % yield. Alcohol products, [4.3.3]_CH2OH and [3.3.3]_CH2OH, were then tested in acidic conditions using anhydrous FeCl3 as a Lewis acid. After the reactions, the alcohol proton signals at 1.54–1.58 ppm disappeared in the 1H NMR spectra, and aliphatic carbon ones at 63.1–63.2 ppm were largely up-field
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Chemical structures of fully π-fused propellanes and their typical reaction patterns toward electro...
Figure 2: a) Synthesis of methylene-alternating copolymers of fully π-fused propellanes. DCE, 1,2-dichloroeth...
Figure 3: Gas adsorption (filled circles) and desorption (open circles) isotherms of [3.3.3]_oligo (dark red)...
A multicomponent reaction-initiated synthesis of imidazopyridine-fused isoquinolinones
- Ashutosh Nath,
- John Mark Awad and
- Wei Zhang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1161–1169, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.92
- initial GBB reaction of aminopyridines 1 (0.5 mmol), isocyanides 3 (1.2 equiv), and furfuraldehydes 2 (1.2 equiv) was conducted in 3:1 CH2Cl2/MeOH (4 mL) using Yb(OTf)3 (0.08 equiv) as a Lewis acid catalyst under microwave irradiation at 100 °C for 1 h (Scheme 2). Nineteen distinct adducts 4 were obtained
- tested, AlCl₃ gave the best result, while CuCl, ZnCl2, PdCl2 and Sc(OTf)3 showed moderate conversions (30–55%), and InCl3 had the lowest efficiency. Without any Lewis acid we observed no conversion by LC–MS (Table 1, entry 16). During the reaction, IMDA adduct 7a was detected by LC–MS (Figure S1
- GBB reactions for the preparation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 4 were conducted using aminopyridines 1 (0.5 mmol), isocyanides 3 (0.6 mmol, 1.2 equiv), and furfuraldehyde 2 (0.6 mmol, 1.2 equiv) in 3:1 DCM/MeOH (4 mL) with Yb(OTf)3 (0.04 mmol, 0.08 equiv) as a Lewis acid catalyst under microwave
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Bioactive compounds bearing imidazopyridine (red) and isoquinolinone-kind (blue) rings.
Scheme 1: GBB-initiated synthesis of imidazopyridine-fused isoquinolinones.
Scheme 2: GBB reaction and N-acylation for the preparation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines 6.
Scheme 3: Substrate scope for IMDA and dehydrative aromatization in making 8. Reaction conditions: 6 and AlCl3...
Figure 2: Transition state analysis of IMDA reactions for 6a, 6j, 6h and 6r.
Figure 3: Relative energy diagram for the synthesis of 8a from 6a.
Scheme 4: Using thiophene-2-carbaldehyde for the synthesis of 8t.
Scheme 5: Proposed mechanisms for IMDA reaction and dehydration re-aromatization.
Recent advances in synthetic approaches for bioactive cinnamic acid derivatives
- Betty A. Kustiana,
- Galuh Widiyarti and
- Teni Ernawati
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 1031–1086, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.85
- yield. The reaction proceeds via a CeO2-coordinated carboxylate mode (Scheme 31A) [67]. In addition, the catalyst also offered high reusability for up to 4 runs thus further promoting the eco-friendliness. Carbonyl activation via Lewis acid–O=C interaction has also been achieved using other transition
- hand, carboxyl activation via Lewis acid–O=C interaction has also been developed. Ramachandran and Hamann (2021) directly prepared the amide 12 from cinnamic acid (7) catalyzed by BH3. The reaction proceeds via formation of the triacyloxyborane–amine complex intermediate 132 (Scheme 40A) [76]. The same
- vinylphenylboronic acid to synthesize the solid-supported phenylboronic acid catalyst (cat 1) which was used to convert cinnamic acid (7) to its corresponding amide 12 in moderate yield. The reaction involves dicarboxylate complex 135 formed through Lewis acid B–O=C interaction (Scheme 41A) [23]. The catalyst could
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Biologically active cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 1: General synthetic strategies for cinnamic acid derivatizations.
Scheme 2: Cinnamic acid coupling via isobutyl anhydride formation.
Scheme 3: Amidation reaction via O/N-pivaloyl activation.
Scheme 4: Cinnamic acid amidation using TCCA/PPh3 reagent.
Scheme 5: Cinnamic acid amidation using triazine-based reagents.
Scheme 6: Cinnamic acid amidation using continuous flow mechanochemistry.
Scheme 7: Cinnamic acid amidation using COMU as coupling reagent.
Scheme 8: Cinnamic acid amidation using allenone coupling reagent.
Scheme 9: Cinnamic acid amidation using 4-acetamidophenyl triflimide as reagent.
Scheme 10: Cinnamic acid amidation using methyltrimethoxysilane (MTM).
Scheme 11: Cinnamic acid amidation utilizing amine–borane reagent.
Scheme 12: Cinnamic acid amidation using TCCA/PPh3 reagent.
Scheme 13: Cinnamic acid amidation using PPh3/I2 reagent.
Scheme 14: Cinnamic acid amidation using PCl3 reagent.
Scheme 15: Cinnamic acid amidation utilizing pentafluoropyridine (PFP) as reagent.
Scheme 16: Cinnamic acid amidation using hypervalent iodine(III).
Scheme 17: Mechanochemical amidation using 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-N,N-dimethylamine (TFEDMA) reagent.
Scheme 18: Methyl ester preparation using tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (TMPP).
Scheme 19: N-Trifluoromethyl amide preparation using isothiocyanate and AgF.
Scheme 20: POCl3-mediated amide coupling of carboxylic acid and DMF.
Scheme 21: O-Alkylation of cinnamic acid using alkylating agents.
Scheme 22: Glycoside preparation via Mitsunobu reaction.
Scheme 23: O/N-Acylation via rearrangement reactions.
Scheme 24: Amidation reactions using sulfur-based alkylating agents.
Scheme 25: Amidation reaction catalyzed by Pd0 via C–N cleavage.
Scheme 26: Amidation reaction catalyzed by CuCl/PPh3.
Scheme 27: Cu(II) triflate-catalyzed N-difluoroethylimide synthesis.
Scheme 28: Cu/Selectfluor-catalyzed transamidation reaction.
Scheme 29: CuO–CaCO3-catalyzed amidation reaction.
Scheme 30: Ni-catalyzed reductive amidation.
Scheme 31: Lewis acidic transition-metal-catalyzed O/N-acylations.
Scheme 32: Visible-light-promoted amidation of cinnamic acid.
Scheme 33: Sunlight/LED-promoted amidation of cinnamic acid.
Scheme 34: Organophotocatalyst-promoted N–O cleavage of Weinreb amides to synthesize primary amides.
Scheme 35: Cinnamamide synthesis through [Ir] photocatalyst-promoted C–N-bond cleavage of tertiary amines.
Scheme 36: Blue LED-promoted FeCl3-catalyzed reductive transamidation.
Scheme 37: FPyr/TCT-catalyzed amidation of cinnamic acid derivative 121.
Scheme 38: Cs2CO3/DMAP-mediated esterification.
Scheme 39: HBTM organocatalyzed atroposelective N-acylation.
Scheme 40: BH3-catalyzed N-acylation reactions.
Scheme 41: Borane-catalyzed N-acylation reactions.
Scheme 42: Catalytic N-acylation reactions via H/F bonding activation.
Scheme 43: Brønsted base-catalyzed synthesis of cinnamic acid esters.
Scheme 44: DABCO/Fe3O4-catalyzed N-methyl amidation of cinnamic acid 122.
Scheme 45: Catalytic oxidation reactions of acylating agents.
Scheme 46: Preparation of cinnamamide-substituted benzocyclooctene using I(I)/I(III) catalysis.
Scheme 47: Pd-colloids-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol.
Scheme 48: Graphene-supported Pd/Au alloy-catalyzed oxidative esterification via hemiacetal intermediate.
Scheme 49: Au-supported on A) carbon nanotubes (CNT) and B) on porous boron nitride (pBN) as catalyst for the ...
Scheme 50: Cr-based catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohols with H2O2 as the oxidant.
Scheme 51: Co-based catalysts used for oxidative esterification of cinnamyl alcohol.
Scheme 52: Iron (A) and copper (B)-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 53: NiHPMA-catalyzed oxidative esterification of cinnamaldehyde.
Scheme 54: Synthesis of cinammic acid esters through NHC-catalyzed oxidative esterification via intermolecular...
Scheme 55: Redox-active NHC-catalyzed esterification via intramolecular oxidation.
Scheme 56: Electrochemical conversion of cinnamaldehyde to methyl cinnamate.
Scheme 57: Bu4NI/TBHP-catalyzed synthesis of bisamides from cinnamalaldehyde N-tosylhydrazone.
Scheme 58: Zn/NC-950-catalyzed oxidative esterification of ketone 182.
Scheme 59: Ru-catalyzed oxidative carboxylation of terminal alkenes.
Scheme 60: Direct carboxylation of alkenes using CO2.
Scheme 61: Carboxylation of alkenylboronic acid/ester.
Scheme 62: Carboxylation of gem-difluoroalkenes with CO2.
Scheme 63: Photoredox-catalyzed carboxylation of difluoroalkenes.
Scheme 64: Ru-catalyzed carboxylation of alkenyl halide.
Scheme 65: Carboxylation of alkenyl halides under flow conditions.
Scheme 66: Cinnamic acid ester syntheses through carboxylation of alkenyl sulfides/sulfones.
Scheme 67: Cinnamic acid derivatives synthesis through a Ag-catalyzed decarboxylative cross-coupling proceedin...
Scheme 68: Pd-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarbonylation.
Scheme 69: Fe-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarbonylation.
Scheme 70: Alkyne hydrocarboxylation using CO2.
Scheme 71: Alkyne hydrocarboxylation using HCO2H as CO surrogate.
Scheme 72: Co/AlMe3-catalyzed alkyne hydrocarboxylation using DMF.
Scheme 73: Au-catalyzed oxidation of Au–allenylidenes.
Scheme 74: Pd-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of cyclopropenones to synthesize unsaturated esters and amides.
Scheme 75: Ag-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 76: Cu-catalyzed C–C bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 77: PPh3-catalyzed C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 78: Catalyst-free C–C-bond activation of diphenylcyclopropenone.
Scheme 79: Cu-catalyzed dioxolane cleavage.
Scheme 80: Multicomponent coupling reactions.
Scheme 81: Pd-catalyzed partial hydrogenation of electrophilic alkynes.
Scheme 82: Nickel and cobalt as earth-abundant transition metals used as catalysts for the partial hydrogenati...
Scheme 83: Metal-free-catalyzed partial hydrogenation of conjugated alkynes.
Scheme 84: Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction between triethyl 2-fluoro-2-phosphonoacetate and aldehydes with ei...
Scheme 85: Preparation of E/Z-cinnamates using thiouronium ylides.
Scheme 86: Transition-metal-catalyzed ylide reactions.
Scheme 87: Redox-driven ylide reactions.
Scheme 88: Noble transition-metal-catalyzed olefination via carbenoid species.
Scheme 89: TrBF4-catalyzed olefination via carbene species.
Scheme 90: Grubbs catalyst (cat 7)/photocatalyst-mediated metathesis reactions.
Scheme 91: Elemental I2-catalyzed carbonyl-olefin metathesis.
Scheme 92: Cu-photocatalyzed E-to-Z isomerization of cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 93: Ni-catalyzed E-to-Z isomerization.
Scheme 94: Dehydration of β-hydroxy esters via an E1cB mechanism to access (E)-cinnamic acid esters.
Scheme 95: Domino ring-opening reaction induced by a base.
Scheme 96: Dehydroamination of α-aminoester derivatives.
Scheme 97: Accessing methyl cinnamate (44) via metal-free deamination or decarboxylation.
Scheme 98: The core–shell magnetic nanosupport-catalyzed condensation reaction.
Scheme 99: Accessing cinnamic acid derivatives from acetic acid esters/amides through α-olefination.
Scheme 100: Accessing cinnamic acid derivatives via acceptorless α,β-dehydrogenation.
Scheme 101: Cu-catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition.
Scheme 102: Pd-catalyzed C–C bond formation via 1,4-Pd-shift.
Scheme 103: NHC-catalyzed Rauhut–Currier reactions.
Scheme 104: Heck-type reaction for Cα arylation.
Scheme 105: Cu-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of cinnamamide.
Scheme 106: Ru-catalyzed alkenylation of arenes using directing groups.
Scheme 107: Earth-abundant transition-metal-catalyzed hydroarylation of α,β-alkynyl ester 374.
Scheme 108: Precious transition-metal-catalyzed β-arylation of cinnamic acid amide/ester.
Scheme 109: Pd-catalyzed β-amination of cinnamamide.
Scheme 110: S8-mediated β-amination of methyl cinnamate (44).
Scheme 111: Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of alkynyl esters with phenylsilanes.
Scheme 112: Pd-catalyzed β-cyanation of alkynyl amide/ester.
Scheme 113: Au-catalyzed β-amination of alkynyl ester 374.
Scheme 114: Metal-free-catalyzed Cβ-functionalizations of alkynyl esters.
Scheme 115: Heck-type reactions.
Scheme 116: Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions using unconventional functionalized arenes.
Scheme 117: Functional group-directed Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 118: Pd nanoparticles-catalyzed Mizoroki–Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 119: Catellani-type reactions to access methyl cinnamate with multifunctionalized arene.
Scheme 120: Multicomponent coupling reactions.
Scheme 121: Single atom Pt-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction.
Scheme 122: Earth-abundant transition metal-catalyzed Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 123: Polymer-coated earth-abundant transition metals-catalyzed Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 124: Earth-abundant transition-metal-based nanoparticles as catalysts for Heck coupling reactions.
Scheme 125: CN- and Si-based directing groups to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 126: Amide-based directing group to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 127: Carbonyl-based directing group to access o-selective cinnamic acid derivatives.
Scheme 128: Stereoselective preparation of atropisomers via o-selective C(sp2)–H functionalization.
Scheme 129: meta-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization using directing group-tethered arenes.
Scheme 130: para-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization using directing group-tethered arenes.
Scheme 131: Non-directed C(sp2)–H functionalization via electrooxidative Fujiwara–Moritani reaction.
Scheme 132: Interconversion of functional groups attached to cinnamic acid.
Scheme 133: meta-Selective C(sp2)–H functionalization of cinnamate ester.
Scheme 134: C(sp2)–F arylation using Grignard reagents.
Scheme 135: Truce–Smiles rearrangement of N-aryl metacrylamides.
Scheme 136: Phosphine-catalyzed cyclization of γ-vinyl allenoate with enamino esters.
Recent advances in controllable/divergent synthesis
- Jilei Cao,
- Leiyang Bai and
- Xuefeng Jiang
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 890–914, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.73
- bromides) and the Lewis acid activator, a selective mono- or di-methylene insertion reaction can be carried out, generating α-/β-boryl-substituted tertiary organic amines 83 from simple secondary organic amines. Using N-alkyl-N-arylaminoboranes as the reactant, the reaction proceeds at −78 °C with CH2Br2
Graphical Abstract
Scheme 1: Ligand-controlled regiodivergent C1 insertion into arynes [19].
Scheme 2: Ligand effect in homogenous gold catalysis enabling regiodivergent π-bond-activated cyclization [20].
Scheme 3: Ligand-controlled palladium(II)-catalyzed regiodivergent carbonylation of alkynes [21].
Scheme 4: Catalyst-controlled annulations of strained cyclic allenes with π-allyl palladium complexes and pro...
Scheme 5: Ring expansion of benzosilacyclobutenes with alkynes [23].
Scheme 6: Photoinduced regiodivergent and enantioselective cross-coupling [24].
Scheme 7: Catalyst-controlled regiodivergent and enantioselective formal hydroamination of N,N-disubstituted ...
Scheme 8: Catalyst-tuned regio- and enantioselective C(sp3)–C(sp3) coupling [31].
Scheme 9: Catalyst-controlled annulations of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes with vinyl azides [32].
Scheme 10: Solvent-driven reversible macrocycle-to-macrocycle interconversion [39].
Scheme 11: Unexpected solvent-dependent reactivity of cyclic diazo imides and mechanism [40].
Scheme 12: Palladium-catalyzed annulation of prochiral N-arylphosphonamides with aromatic iodides [41].
Scheme 13: Time-dependent enantiodivergent synthesis [42].
Scheme 14: Time-controlled palladium-catalyzed divergent synthesis of silacycles via C–H activation [43].
Scheme 15: Proposed mechanism for the time-controlled palladium-catalyzed divergent synthesis of silacycles [43].
Scheme 16: Metal-free temperature-controlled regiodivergent borylative cyclizations of enynes [45].
Scheme 17: Nickel-catalyzed switchable site-selective alkene hydroalkylation by temperature regulation [46].
Scheme 18: Copper-catalyzed decarboxylative amination/hydroamination sequence [48].
Scheme 19: Proposed mechanism of copper-catalyzed decarboxylative amination/hydroamination sequence [48].
Scheme 20: Enantioselective chemodivergent three-component radical tandem reactions [49].
Scheme 21: Substrate-controlled synthesis of indoles and 3H-indoles [52].
Scheme 22: Controlled mono- and double methylene insertions into nitrogen–boron bonds [53].
Scheme 23: Copper-catalyzed substrate-controlled carbonylative synthesis of α-keto amides and amides [54].
Scheme 24: Divergent sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange linkage of sulfonimidoyl fluorides and alkynes [55].
Scheme 25: Modular and divergent syntheses of protoberberine and protonitidine alkaloids [56].
Total synthesis of (±)-simonsol C using dearomatization as key reaction under acidic conditions
- Xiao-Yang Bi,
- Xiao-Shuai Yang,
- Shan-Shan Chen,
- Jia-Jun Sui,
- Zhao-Nan Cai,
- Yong-Ming Chuan and
- Hong-Bo Qin
Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2025, 21, 601–606, doi:10.3762/bjoc.21.47
- dearomatization offers considerable versatility. Not only can it be employed under basic dearomatization conditions, but it is also effective under Lewis acid conditions. Combined with a reductive elimination using Zn/AcOH, the benzofuran skeleton can be easily synthesized. This dual applicability of the new
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1: Representative sesquineolignan compounds.
Scheme 1: The first total synthesis of (±)-simonsol C by Banwell’s group.
Scheme 2: The second total synthesis of (±)-simonsol C developed by the Qin group.
Figure 2: Retrosynthetic analysis of (±)-simonsol C.
Scheme 3: Rapid access of the basic skeleton of (±)- simonsol C.
Scheme 4: Synthetic details to (±)-simonsol C.
